A survey of produce growers found that many plan to cut labor costs by reducing production in California or turning to mechanization in response to the state's new minimum wage and agricultural overtime laws.

Lobbying groups have been making last-minute pitches to an obscure state agency on an issue that has ramifications throughout the state and particularly in Sonoma County: To what length should farmers go to protect schoolchildren from sprayed pesticides?

The Washington State Wine Commission will hold the annual Research Review on January 18-19, 2017, at the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center in Prosser, Washington. The meeting is open to members of Washington State's wine industry.

New wine importer, Golden Frog Productions is committed to launching new brands using higher quality grapes, but eliminating more than 85 percent of traditional importer margins to bring consumers these wines for up to one third less. The company is co-founded by industry veterans, Peter Click and Alan MacDonald, the brains behind top-selling wine brands: Root: 1, Clean Slate, High Note, Fat bastard, Eroica and Red Diamond, which have collectively sold more than 10 million cases.

In collaboration with renowned Auston Design Group and acclaimed California artist Mike Gray, Shannon Ridge has finalized new packaging for their High Elevation Collection wine. "We wanted a label that depicted the beauty and history of our Home Ranch, located in the High Valley AVA of Lake County. The new illustration reveals the unique mountain vineyard terroir and iconic Mount Konocti on Clearlake," says Clay Shannon, President and CEO of Shannon Ridge Family of Wines.

The state agriculture department said Wednesday that federal officials had confirmed the presence of phylloxera in Mesa County's Grand Valley wine region, home to nearly 75 percent of Colorado's grape acreage.

Wine makers in the Okanagan and the rest of B.C. will soon be able to put more information on their bottle labels. Regulatory changes support the process of making official sub-geographical indications easier.

It's why a recent TV ad featured a young couple grabbling mini-Cokes while making paella, and why food bloggers were paid to post photos on Instagram of various dishes, paired specifically with glass bottles of Coke that might appeal to the aesthetic of "foodie" culture.

Ideal weather conditions at the end of harvest season put a smile back on the faces of the Loire winegrowers, who had to deal with a complex array of weather patterns throughout the year. But this vintage is set to be flavorsome and fruit-driven, with good balance and ample availability to supply market needs. See below for a description of each grape's harvests.

Viña Montes has long been committed to sustainable viticulture, most recently in 2014 introducing a landmark "dry farming" program in their vineyards in southern Chile. This initiative resulted in water savings of around 65%, and inspired the Montes research and development team to find ways to decrease water usage and wastage further.

Bodegas Oliveros is a family-owned and -operated winery in Andalusia, Spain, producing artisanal vermouth, which is now distributed to the U.S. market by Winesellers, Ltd. Juan Oliveros established the winery in the 1940s and his grandson Miguel now oversees day-to-day operations.

After more than 30 years of winemaking experience in the Paso Robles region of California, the Riboli family is proud to debut its first super premium red Bordeaux blend, Stormwatch, under the San Simeon brand.

The largest vineyards in the state became the first to receive their Agriculture Stewardship Assurance Program (ASAP) certification in the Missouri Department of Agriculture's new specialty crop category. ASAP was launched to recognize farmers who are doing the best for Missouri's land, farms and families.

California Chamber of Commerce's legal team, and other law firms identified 40 key employment-related laws enacted by the state of California that may affect day-to-day business operations in 2017 and beyond.

Witness three Chicago bars, set to open in the next few weeks - Income Tax in Edgewater, Red & White in Bucktown and The Lunatic, The Lover & The Poet in the West Loop are channeling a passion for people-focused wine service to redefine the drinking experience.

A long dormant former auto dealership is slated to get a new life early next year if all goes according to plan.
The former Plummer Automall, which sold its last vehicle in 2009, will become home to the Calturas Winery, Firehouse Restaurant and Brewery. Liquor licensing, for what will be the largest re-use project in the city of Lodi, was approved in late October.

Despite the relative successes of the "Free My Grapes" movement - a consumers' rights organization that was spearheaded by frustrated wine fan Shirley-Ann George a little over five years ago and works to remove barriers to inter-provincial wine trade - we still can't find much Okanagan wine in Ontario (George's particular grievance) nor expressions from Niagara in British Columbia. But you can find Nova Scotia's Benjamin Bridge everywhere, even in the Yukon. The fresh, rosy-golden, peachy sparkler, called Nova 7, is more or less the headliner for Benjamin Bridge and one of the few Canadian labels you might find anywhere from sea to shining sea.

Smith Family Wines, the largest grape grower in the Santa Lucia Highlands, taps industry veteran Larry Brooks to lead their winemaking program. With rich experience in all aspects of the winemaking experience, Brooks will continue to elevate the premier wines coming from Smith Family Wines.

Rising income inequality has eroded the ability for American children to grow up to earn more than their parents, according to groundbreaking new research from a superstar team of economists that carries deep implications for President-elect Donald Trump's policy agenda